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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: Zimba Gino <xcelenzimi@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:12:45 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT


I RECEIVED YOUR EMAIL VERY LATELY.THE ONLY GUARNTEE I HAVE IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR BANK CHEQUE IN A MATTER OF 2 TO 3 DAYS BY FEDEX COURIER EXPRESS AS SOON AS YOU PAID THE FEDEX 97EUR DELIVERY TARIFF.I HAVE SENT A SCANNED COPY OF MY INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT TO YOU EARLIER SO YOU CAN SEND THE MONEY TO MY NAME AS CONTAIN IN THE PASSPORT.IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN,THE NAME ARE :
 
ZIMBA GINO SAM
CITY: LOME
COUNTRY: TOGO
 
AND YOU SHOULD ALSO RE-SEND YOUR MAILING ADDRESS WHERE I CAN SEND THE BANK CHEQUE TO YOU AS I HAVE FORGOTTEN THE ADDRESS.
 
THE MONEY IS TO BE SENT THROUGH THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER AND ALL THE PAYMENT INFORMATION SUCH AS : THE TRANSFER NUMBERS,THE TRANSFER SECRET QUESTION AND ANSWER AND OTHER NECESSARY DETAILS OF THE PAYMENT TO BE SENT ALONGSIDE THE MONEY.
 
MY SINCERE GUARANTEE HAS BEEN THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE THE BANK CHEQUE IN A MATTER OF 2 TO 3 DAYS FROM THE TIME OF PAYMENT.MENAWHILE,I LOOK FORWARD FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY.
 
DR.ZIMBA GINO.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam